Hendry Could Spend $50M This Offseason

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That list doesn't look like it included guys who have options for next year, as well as a few others, so here are the omissions by what I have:

 

John Thomson(2006 Option)

Luis Matos

Steve Reed(Option)

John Halama(Option)

Alex Cora(Option)

Frank Thomas(Option)

Luis Vizcaino

Cliff Politte

Timo Perez

Carl Everett(Option)

Ramon Ortiz(not positive)

Ronnie Belliard(Option)

Todd Greene(Option)

Desi Relaford(Option)

Jamie Walker

Scott Sullivan(Option)

Elmer Dessens(Option)

Kelly Wunsch

Carlos Lee(Option)

Joe Mays(Option)

Tom Glavine(Option)

Felix Heredia(Option)

Braden Looper(Option)

Doug Mientkiewicz(Option)

Tino Martinez(Option)

Tanyon Sturtze(Option)

Shawn Chacon

Jay Payton(Option)

Joe Kennedy

Mike Lieberthal(Option)

Ugeth Urbina

Jack Wilson

Jose Mesa(Option)

Paul Quantrill(Option)

Mark Loretta(Option)

Eric Young(Option)

Woody Williams(Option)

Ray Durham(Option)

Jason Schmidt(Option)

Moises Alou(Option)

Jason Christiansen(Option)

Randy Winn(Option)

Shigetoshi Hasegawa(Option)

Eddie Guardado(Option)

Pokey Reese(Option)

Jeff Suppan(Option)

Larry Walker(Option)

Miguel Batista

Frank Menechino

Gregg Zaun(Option)

 

Obviously not all those options are going to be picked up, and this list isn't exactly a Who's Who of stars, but it helps contribute to an already deep(if not top heavy) class after next year.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm done with Corey. Trade him for whatever you can get, and sign a stopgap guy until Pie's ready. I'd go for Jay Payton, who only makes $3.5 this year but will probably cost you a bit more after the splash he made after being traded to the A's. Other FA possibilities: Dave Roberts (who's older, cheaper, has better speed but has NO power) or Jose Cruz Jr. (if he gets over his horrendous fielding slump, and is willing to accept much less than this year's $4 mil)

 

Payton has an 4 million team option next year, and Roberts has another year of arbitration before free agency.

 

What about Mora? What does Baltimore need to make him a Cub?

 

Mora has one more year on his deal, he'll be a FA after '06. I have no idea why they'd trade him away though, do they have anyone ready to step in at 3B?

[rawaction]

We hardly need to spend all that money on hitters; as I've stated ad nauseum, the Cubs right now are a top-5 offense. What they need is a little more OBP, and pitching, pitching and more pitching.

 

That having been said, I love Brian Giles, and I think you open up the bank for him. 3 years/$38 million sounds like an offer he can't refuse. Book him, Danno. Bat him in front of DLee, who's come up to bat 331 times this season with the bases empty (25 solo HRs), compared to 248 PAs with runner(s) on. With a .400 OBP ahead of him, that's a lot fewer solo shots.

 

(If you can't get Giles, nab Juan Encarnacion, whose .360 OBP would look good in the 2 spot. And his 2005 salary is $4.4 mil, so you'd save a bit of money.)

 

I'm done with Corey. Trade him for whatever you can get, and sign a stopgap guy until Pie's ready. I'd go for Jay Payton, who only makes $3.5 this year but will probably cost you a bit more after the splash he made after being traded to the A's. Other FA possibilities: Dave Roberts (who's older, cheaper, has better speed but has NO power) or Jose Cruz Jr. (if he gets over his horrendous fielding slump, and is willing to accept much less than this year's $4 mil)

 

For a backup OF, rather than Jeff Conine, let's grab Mark Sweeney, who's old but cheap, and has a career .359 OBP (.425 this year).

 

And I'd love to steal Jason Michaels away from Philly as a backup CFer. His 2005 OBP: .407.

 

Go cheap on the rest of the offense.

 

 

Then you buy a couple of starters, Burnett and Millwood would be my preference. If you can trade for Zito, you go all-out.

 

Lineup:

 

Walker, 2B

Murton, LF

Giles, RF

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Barrett, C

CF (choose from FAs Dave Roberts, Jose Cruz Jr. or Jay Payton--preferably Payton)

Cedeno, SS

 

That's a better offense than this year's, and will score quite a few more runs.

 

SP:

Z

Prior

Burnett

Millwood

Maddux

 

(Swap Zito for Millwood if you can trade for him, and move Zito to 3rd).

 

RP:

Ohman

Wuertz

Williamson (setup)

VanBuren

Chris Hammond (FA; 1.02 WHIP in 2005)

 

Closer: Wood

 

Bench:

Mark Sweeney (OF & PH)

Scott McClain (3B & 1B)

Mike Fontenot (2B, SS, 3B)

Ben Grieve (OF & PH)

Hank White ©

Jason Michaels (OF)

 

I'd love that bench. Guys who can get on base at all spots. Only thing is Fontenot can't play SS. I'm not a fan of any of the CF options you mentioned, and I don't think there's anyway the Cubs get possibly the top 2 FAs this offseason (Burnett, Giles).

[Nobody youd want to know]

We hardly need to spend all that money on hitters; as I've stated ad nauseum, the Cubs right now are a top-5 offense. What they need is a little more OBP, and pitching, pitching and more pitching.

 

That having been said, I love Brian Giles, and I think you open up the bank for him. 3 years/$38 million sounds like an offer he can't refuse. Book him, Danno. Bat him in front of DLee, who's come up to bat 331 times this season with the bases empty (25 solo HRs), compared to 248 PAs with runner(s) on. With a .400 OBP ahead of him, that's a lot fewer solo shots.

 

(If you can't get Giles, nab Juan Encarnacion, whose .360 OBP would look good in the 2 spot. And his 2005 salary is $4.4 mil, so you'd save a bit of money.)

 

I'm done with Corey. Trade him for whatever you can get, and sign a stopgap guy until Pie's ready. I'd go for Jay Payton, who only makes $3.5 this year but will probably cost you a bit more after the splash he made after being traded to the A's. Other FA possibilities: Dave Roberts (who's older, cheaper, has better speed but has NO power) or Jose Cruz Jr. (if he gets over his horrendous fielding slump, and is willing to accept much less than this year's $4 mil)

 

For a backup OF, rather than Jeff Conine, let's grab Mark Sweeney, who's old but cheap, and has a career .359 OBP (.425 this year).

 

And I'd love to steal Jason Michaels away from Philly as a backup CFer. His 2005 OBP: .407.

 

Go cheap on the rest of the offense.

 

 

Then you buy a couple of starters, Burnett and Millwood would be my preference. If you can trade for Zito, you go all-out.

 

Lineup:

 

Walker, 2B

Murton, LF

Giles, RF

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Barrett, C

CF (choose from FAs Dave Roberts, Jose Cruz Jr. or Jay Payton--preferably Payton)

Cedeno, SS

 

That's a better offense than this year's, and will score quite a few more runs.

 

SP:

Z

Prior

Burnett

Millwood

Maddux

 

(Swap Zito for Millwood if you can trade for him, and move Zito to 3rd).

 

RP:

Ohman

Wuertz

Williamson (setup)

VanBuren

Chris Hammond (FA; 1.02 WHIP in 2005)

 

Closer: Wood

 

Bench:

Mark Sweeney (OF & PH)

Scott McClain (3B & 1B)

Mike Fontenot (2B, SS, 3B)

Ben Grieve (OF & PH)

Hank White ©

Jason Michaels (OF)

 

I'd love that bench. Guys who can get on base at all spots. Only thing is Fontenot can't play SS. I'm not a fan of any of the CF options you mentioned, and I don't think there's anyway the Cubs get possibly the top 2 FAs this offseason (Burnett, Giles).

 

Hmmm... who do you get to back up SS? Where's Augie Ojeda when you need him?

 

As has been pointed out above, my source on FA CFers was a little mistaken (tho Dave Roberts still arb-eligible? The guy's like 50 years old). In which case you steal Jason Michaels from the Phils and start him. Why do they not trust him, anyway? Stat-wise, he's a stud.

 

I also realized in my haste to post I left a few current Cubs pitchers off the roster. Which must mean they're expendable. Jerome Williams goes to Oakland as part of the Barry Zito trade, as does Novoa. Rusch gets traded in the Patterson deal after he picks up his option.

 

I'd keep Rich Hill in Iowa, ready to make the jump if Chris Hammonds falls off his rocking chair and hurts himself.

[CubfaninCA]

That package wouldn't even start a conversation. If Philly once again falls short, I wouldn't eliminate the possibility of them dealing Abreu, but you're basically sending them spare parts, not prospects.

 

Agreed. We'd probably need to gut the farm system to make a play for Abreu and I'm not sure that is worth it. Although, I believe Abreu could probably be had for a top flight starting pitcher.

 

I'd rather contact DePotesta and see if they would have interest in moving their headache (Milton Bradley) for ours (Patterson). Both players most likely need changes of scenery. Bradley would have a manager he could probably play for in Baker. I wouldn't mind a Giles, Bradley, Murton outfield next season, with Pie pushing Murton if he falters.

 

The last thing the Cubs need is someone as unstable as Bradley.

[Tedward]

The last thing the Cubs need is someone as unstable as Bradley.

 

Getting him away from Jeff Kent would be a plus.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That package wouldn't even start a conversation. If Philly once again falls short, I wouldn't eliminate the possibility of them dealing Abreu, but you're basically sending them spare parts, not prospects.

 

Agreed. We'd probably need to gut the farm system to make a play for Abreu and I'm not sure that is worth it. Although, I believe Abreu could probably be had for a top flight starting pitcher.

 

I'd rather contact DePotesta and see if they would have interest in moving their headache (Milton Bradley) for ours (Patterson). Both players most likely need changes of scenery. Bradley would have a manager he could probably play for in Baker. I wouldn't mind a Giles, Bradley, Murton outfield next season, with Pie pushing Murton if he falters.

 

The last thing the Cubs need is someone as unstable as Bradley.

 

On the other hand, one of the first things the Cubs need is production like Bradley's, especially out of CF. I wouldn't refuse him.

[Illini Iceman]

That package wouldn't even start a conversation. If Philly once again falls short, I wouldn't eliminate the possibility of them dealing Abreu, but you're basically sending them spare parts, not prospects.

 

Agreed. We'd probably need to gut the farm system to make a play for Abreu and I'm not sure that is worth it. Although, I believe Abreu could probably be had for a top flight starting pitcher.

 

I'd rather contact DePotesta and see if they would have interest in moving their headache (Milton Bradley) for ours (Patterson). Both players most likely need changes of scenery. Bradley would have a manager he could probably play for in Baker. I wouldn't mind a Giles, Bradley, Murton outfield next season, with Pie pushing Murton if he falters.

 

The last thing the Cubs need is someone as unstable as Bradley.

 

On the other hand, one of the first things the Cubs need is production like Bradley's, especially out of CF. I wouldn't refuse him.

 

If the Dodgers would trade Bradley for CPatt straight up Hendry would be nuts not to do it.

[USSoccer]

Why would DePo trade for Patterson? He's not as cheap as he used to be, and he'd be moving to an extreme pitchers park. The only thing he'd give LA is defense in CF, but LA needs offense.

 

I think CPatt gets dumped onto a bad team for a mid tier prospect. I don't see us getting anything in value for him, unless Hendry can convince a team his half season in 2003 is more lkely than his 2 bad seasons following it.

[TheDude]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hendry make a deal for Pierre and try to answer our lead-off question there.

 

While I'm not enamored with Pierre, I wouldn't be surprised to see that move.

I would however be sickened by that move. Pierre is not the answer, as I'm sure 99% of this board believes also.

You'd be wrong. Just run a search. That argument has been run into the ground in a half-dozen other threads already. But there are plenty of pro-Pierre supporters on this board. It's just that the Beanesters tend to have the louder voices and a 10-1 post count ;).

[CubfaninCA]

The last thing the Cubs need is someone as unstable as Bradley.

 

Getting him away from Jeff Kent would be a plus.

 

How about his wife too?? The guy sounds like a piece of crap. I could care less how many walks he takes.

[Tedward]

How about his wife too?? The guy sounds like a piece of crap. I could care less how many walks he takes.

 

I could care less about what he does off the field. I want to win a WS, not have model citizens and choir boys on my team. If he gets me closer and is a stong piece for a WS Championship, I want him on my team. I would like to see a WS Champion in my lifetime. I'm sick of the losing.

 

Baker's being paid a lot of money for being a players manager. It's time for him to start earning some of that cash. He handled Bonds and Kent griping....he can handle Bradley.

[Exile on Waveland]

How about his wife too?? The guy sounds like a piece of crap. I could care less how many walks he takes.

 

I could care less about what he does off the field. I want to win a WS, not have model citizens and choir boys on my team. If he gets me closer and is a stong piece for a WS Championship, I want him on my team. I would like to see a WS Champion in my lifetime. I'm sick of the losing.

 

Baker's being paid a lot of money for being a players manager. It's time for him to start earning some of that cash. He handled Bonds and Kent griping....he can handle Bradley.

 

I care. While I want the Cubs to win the World Series as much as the next guy, I don't want a team full of felons and wife-beaters to do so.

[CubfaninCA]

How about his wife too?? The guy sounds like a piece of crap. I could care less how many walks he takes.

 

I could care less about what he does off the field. I want to win a WS, not have model citizens and choir boys on my team. If he gets me closer and is a stong piece for a WS Championship, I want him on my team. I would like to see a WS Champion in my lifetime. I'm sick of the losing.

 

Baker's being paid a lot of money for being a players manager. It's time for him to start earning some of that cash. He handled Bonds and Kent griping....he can handle Bradley.

 

A guy who may be going to jail soon isn't a "strong piece for a WS Championship."

[CubfaninCA]

The more I "think" about it.... The more I'm convinced that the Mets & Boston will restart the Manny trade talks and the Cubs will end up w/ Cliff Floyd. Manny's too expensive of a risk for this organization. Floyd's a safe risk, who fills a need, lefthanded corner outfielder who Baker can put between Lee and Ramirez. Am not sure what happens w/ Murton though.

[AAApittsburgh]

The more I "think" about it.... The more I'm convinced that the Mets & Boston will restart the Manny trade talks and the Cubs will end up w/ Cliff Floyd. Manny's too expensive of a risk for this organization. Floyd's a safe risk, who fills a need, lefthanded corner outfielder who Baker can put between Lee and Ramirez. Am not sure what happens w/ Murton though.

In 12 seasons in the majors, Floyd has played 3 full seasons. This could be his 4th. That doesn't seem very safe to me. If they're going to stick Floyd in one of the corner OF spots, they better get another impact bat for the other spot.

[CubfaninCA]

The more I "think" about it.... The more I'm convinced that the Mets & Boston will restart the Manny trade talks and the Cubs will end up w/ Cliff Floyd. Manny's too expensive of a risk for this organization. Floyd's a safe risk, who fills a need, lefthanded corner outfielder who Baker can put between Lee and Ramirez. Am not sure what happens w/ Murton though.

In 12 seasons in the majors, Floyd has played 3 full seasons. This could be his 4th. That doesn't seem very safe to me. If they're going to stick Floyd in one of the corner OF spots, they better get another impact bat for the other spot.

 

He has one year left on his contract, and iirc he'll get $6 million. This would be a classic Cub move, ala the resigning of Nomar. And yes they should get an impact bat, but watch them get someone like Jacques Jones. At least his d's real solid.